Accra, Jan. 18, GNA - Centre of Languages and Professional Studies (CELPS) would from March 2007 introduce the study of Chinese language to break the myth surrounding it and also foster closer ties between Ghana and China.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) Mr Iddrisu Mumuni Dimbie, Director of the Centre; said there was the need for Ghanaians to take keen interest in the language since China was becoming a force to reckon with in the world both politically and economically. "Moreover, since Ghanaians travel, stay and work in almost every part of the world, we should be interested in all other languages", he said.

Mr Dimbie observed that recent trends showed that China might become an economic super power and that it was important for Ghanaians to prepare for that change.

He said the establishment of the Centre was in line with the vision of the founding fathers of the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to bring Africans from different countries together as one people.

Mr Dimbie said the Centre was leading the way towards Africa's integration through the opportunity it afforded its students from various African States to interact among themselves with languages. He appealed to the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to come to the aid of the School to improve its infrastructure.

The Centre was established in 1991 by Mr Iddrisu Mumuni Dimbie with one student at Kotobabi in Accra.

Currently, the Centre offers certificates and diploma courses in Arabic, French, Spanish and English languages and has a population of 800 students from countries such as Togo; Niger; Burkina Faso; Cote d'Ivoire; Guinea; Cameroon; Gabon; Benin; Angola; Chad and DR Congo. 18 Jan. 07